About Me

When not nosing, tasting, drinking and reading about malt whisky, I own one of Israel's premiere boutique coaching practices, specializing in small businesses and executive teams.
Trained in the law, I was an international law attorney and took part in Israel's peace negotiations with the Palestinians, as well as representing my country at the UN for parts of the negotiations on the implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Later I was appointed to the military bench.
My favorite thing, other than whisky, is teaching.
You can contact me through the social media buttons above or by email: michael(at)maltandoak.com, replacing the (at) with an @.

Statement of Integrity and Guidelines

Malt and Oak is an independent whisky blog, offering my own views, opinions and news from the world of malt whisky.
These are my guidelines:

1. All whisky reviews published are of whiskies I have personally tasted and noted. Guest bloggers only write about their own personal tastings.

2. With the exception of official whisky samples, I accept no consideration whatsoever from any distillery, bottler, distributor, drink company or store for my opinions.

3. I maintain strict impartiality and objectivity in tasting all whiskies, not least when tasting official samples. Any review of official whisky samples sent to me will be so noted in the post.

4. I will accept invitations to tastings, events and official visits, and full disclosure will be made on any tasting notes and articles resulting from these events or visits.

5. Any sample received over 30 ml in volume is shared with fellow whisky bloggers. In any event, no sample larger than 100 ml will be accepted.

6. No advertisements promoting specific brands will be accepted.

7. I will answer any inquiry by my readers as quickly and as fully as possible.

8. Should I give a link purchase the reviewed whisky, it will be given free of any commercial interest. The link given will always point to cheapest selling price I found on the web. No commission is paid, nor any other consideration given, for such link.

9. As of July 2017, I serve as Douglas Laing’s Israel brand ambassasdor. As such, I will obviously not be posting reviews of Douglas Laing products.

Big Peat: Tasting Notes for a Blended Malt that is a Brand

Despite it being 24°C in Tel Aviv, and winter seeming to be worlds away, it’s deep winter in most of the Northern hemisphere and everybody is gearing up for Christmas (or Hanukkah).

Nothing spells winter more than a nice peated whisky, and so we check out the most recent addition to Israel’s whisky scene, Big Peat which has just found a local importer.

Big Peat is as close to a brand as any vatted malt gets with its own Facebook page, own website and a slew of merchandise from pens that project the face of Big Peat on walls to umbrellas. The whole brand is about fun and lightness and about not taking things too seriously.

Hell, they’ll even send you a free mechanical pencil with every order to prove Scots aren’t cheap 🙂

Photo Credit: www.thegreenwellystop.co.uk

Yet this is a serious vatted malt, blending Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Bowmore. Keeping up the light headed mood, we’re also reminded that the vatting includes even some whisky produced by the legendary Port Ellen distillery, and I wish you much luck in picking it out in the blend. Of course, judging by the prices of Port Ellen, this is as close as many will get to drinking some of that illustrious juice.

Photo Credit: www.punch-et-cocktail.com

Big Peat (46% NCF, NC)

Appearance: Straw, quick thick legs followed by quick thin ones.

Nose: Ardbeg peat hits the nose first, then lemon and vanilla with confectionery notes. There is a lot of the “dirty peat” on the nose there, and some “young bite”.

Palate: Sweet peat with mineral and briny notes. Very much a bonfire on the beach. The whisky is full bodied.

Linger: Medium, leaves peat and some mild sourness in mouth.

Conclusion

The brand is about fun, but the liquid is serious. This vatting is strongly suggestive of youngish Ardbeg (which probably makes up most of the blend) and makes for easy drinking. While not overly distinctive of the different malts in it, it’s the best of the peated vatted malts I’ve tasted and is a good bottle to have around with friends.

3 comments on “Big Peat: Tasting Notes for a Blended Malt that is a Brand”

Interesting. I actually find it more Caol Ila in style and thought that was the main ingredient.
Ardbeg is more ashy to me, especially when young, while caol ila is fresh sea breeze and sweetened lemon.

I guess it realy is a complex blend of islays…
Great value in Israel too, price comparable to the UK.